I was actually being threatened! As a proud, thousand-year-old tree yaokai.

  The person sitting across from me had smooth, delicate skin, striking features, and an aloof, arrogant expression as he tilted his head to gre at me, his fringe covering half of one eye. His face was cold and distant, as if keeping everyone at arm′s length. Too bad, his bck high school uniform betrayed his fake maturity.

  "Find me the purest water in the world.” Ten minutes ago, he had sized up my teahouse, *Endless*, with disdain in his beautiful eyes. “If you find it, beyond the reward, I′ll give you ten more stores, each ten times more luxurious than this shabby little shop.”

  "And if I can′t find it?” I elegantly crossed my legs, blowing away a tea leaf that was floating in my green tea, mentally tearing this arrogant little brat apart many times over.

  "I′ll tear down your shop," he said, picking up a piece of taro milk cake from the pte, sniffing it with a frown, and then tossing it back.

  When I expressed the great sentiment of "No riches can corrupt me, no force can bend me" with a simple "Get out!" the Pàng Zǐ and Shòu Zi, my workers and security, were drooling as they ogled the Maserati parked outside the shop. Shòu Zi even pulled out his calcutor, deeply focused on estimating how long it would take him, based on his sary, to afford the car.

  I shouted those two embarrassing idiots back into the kitchen.

  "My sources say you love money the most." He ignored my dismissal, lifting his gaze to meet mine. "You have no reason to refuse." Then he took a sip of the tea I′d made for him, clearly grimacing, almost spitting it out, but forcing himself to swallow, giving a smug sneer. "There′s nothing we can′t do. You should know that."

  I sneered back at him, dismissing him with contempt. I knew his name was Cang Tongkai. Of course, I also knew the secrets of the Cang Tong family. But so what? Threatening an experienced Yaokai was a mistake. Young people always make this kind of error.

  "I like money, but I don′t like you. So, the door′s that way.” I stood up and left, my back resolute.

  This little brat wants to compete with me on personality?!

  Suddenly I heard a dull thud behind me. I turned around, and to my surprise, Cang Tongkai was kneeling on one knee.

  ''Please save her.” His humble plea was tinged with a sense of forced submission, a quiet endurance in his tone.

  Between me and him on the table, aside from the tea cups and pastries, there was a small fish tank. In the clear gss, a white fish swam slowly, its fringed fins and tail swaying gently.

  The water in the tank was a pale pink, though it had been colorless when Cang Tongkai brought it in. There was a wound on the fish′s left fin, blood slowly oozing out and spreading in the water.

  "I′ve used the most expensive medicine and found the top experts from all over the world, but none of them can heal it,” Cang Tongkai said, his beautiful eyes clouded with frustration. His fingers gently traced the edge of the tank, as if in sympathy with the fish. “Its wound can′t heal. Someone told me that only the purest water can save it.”

  "I have an entire barrel of pure water; feel free to take it if you want.” My gaze shifted from the fish tank to the water dispenser in the corner, my expression colder than when he had threatened me earlier.

  "You…” He suddenly looked up, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, his pale face flushing bright red, rage boiling inside him, though he couldn′t release it.

  This little brat, you think you can handle me?! I maliciously made a victory sign in my mind.

  "Get up.” Satisfied, I dropped my wicked demeanor, stepped around the table, and gently supported his arm with a smile. “Why don′t you drink some tea and tell me a story? About you and that fish.”